NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, February 9, 1878, Blair County, PA

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Items from the Morning Tribune, Altoona, Saturday, February 9, 1878

CITY AND COUNTRY.

Will Gain His Freedom.

  Elijah Dixon, who was sentenced to an imprisonment of four years for 
committing a rape on a little girl named Maggie Heckman, in Yoder township, 
Cambria county, will be discharged from the Western Penitentiary this week. 
His sentence does not expire until August, but under the commutation system, 
for good behavior, six months of the time has been commuted. Many persons 
believe him to be innocent of the crime of which he was convicted, and two 
trials were necessary to convict him at the time, the first jury failing to 
agree after a deliberation of five days. During his immurement the father, 
mother, brother and aunt of the prisoner, who were witnesses at his trial, 
have died, as has also the father of the girl, John Heckman.

Old Land Mark Gone.

  The Green Corner, corner Ninth avenue and Twelfth street, is passing away, 
and will hereafter be known as "Woodward's Bazaar," a depot for bargains in 
Dress Goods, Ladies' Misses' and Children's Wear, Hats, Ribbons, Velvets, 
Silks, Woolen Goods, Underwear, Hosiery of all kinds, Handkerchiefs in silk 
and linen, Table Linen, Toweling, Blankets, &c. 
  We have often wondered that a property situated on such a business 
thoroughfare should go unimproved, but at last it seems the right party has 
taken possession.
  All the past week the carpenters, painters and paper-hangers have been at 
work tearing out and remodeling, and the place is hardly recognizable as the 
old "Green Corner," where the foundation of at least two fortunes have been 
made. Truly the world moves.

Morning Tribune, Friday, February 9, 1878, page 3

HOLLIDAYSBURG DEPARTMENT
Little Facts and Fancies - Big Things Grave and Gay.

  Justice Jackson reports legal business dissentingly dull.
  The borough fathers are revising and arranging the local laws.
  Harris' deserted marble works remind one of a very lonely graveyard. The 
hard times did it.
  B. M. Johnson, Esq., is improving as rapidly as could be expected, and 
will soon be about again.
  The "Hollidaysburg Department" is under special obligations to the 
brethren of the press who have given such kindly notice of the same.
  Yesterday morning the wicked and for the matter of that the righteous, 
too, stood on slippery places. And occasionally they fell together.  
  Our enterprising furniture dealer, A. S. McCoy, with a laudable desire to 
keep ahead is now undergoing a severe attack of whooping cough.
  Some of our enterprising fishermen have been cutting holes in the ice in 
the reservoir and are making futile attempts to beguile the young bass.
  The Frankstown miners heretofore reported as on a strike have accepted the 
reduction demanded by the Blair Iron and Coal Company and returned to work.
  Druggist Snyder's beautiful store room has presented a sort of 
miscellaneous appearance for the past two days, owing to the arrival of a 
large invoice of new goods.
  A little girl named Robinson, residing in Gaysport, while on her way to 
school yesterday morning, tripped and fell, inflicting a frightful gash on 
one of her lips.
  There were not less than four hundred people in the little Scotch Valley 
school house on Wednesday evening last. People with corns relate a mournful 
experience.
  An Allegheny street chimney took a notion to burn out yesterday evening, 
and though there was an immense amount of smoke, there was no fire and 
little excitement.
  The exciting part of our municipal election will be, as it almost always 
is, over the office of Constable. To unprejudiced eyes it looks as though 
the Wright man would win.
  A daughter of Col. William Stone, while on a visit to friends in 
Johnstown, was attacked by something like a paralytic fit. She was brought 
to her home yesterday and is convalescing.
  It was not our James Lyons who took part in the interesting debate among 
the colored people of your city reported yesterday morning. Our "Jim" isn't 
much of a hand at debates, but he just "votes her straight."
  The widow of Henry Cramer, of this borough, is dangerously, and it is 
feared fatally, ill. We trust the fears of her friends may not be realized, 
and that she may have many pleasant years before her.
  The Walterstown Debating Society held an interesting meeting last night. 
So says one of the members. These rural societies are great institutions for 
the development of youthful talent.
  Yesterday morning the aged mother of Colonel William Stone, of Gaysport, 
while in the act of going down the back steps of her residence, slipped and 
fell, fracturing one of the bones of her ankle and otherwise injured 
herself.
  Justice Jones is the happy owner of quite a cabinet of curiosities which 
would well repay a visit from the lovers of natural curiosities. But he had 
no criminal business up to last night, which speaks well for public morals.
  Prof. John B. Holland held a meeting in the public school house yesterday 
evening, with the purpose of organizing a class in phonography. The 
professor is thoroughly competent and he ought to have a large class.
  More than one person measured his full length on the slippery sidewalk 
yesterday morning, and there are bruises where there were none before, but 
we have heard of no serious accident save the one recorded elsewhere.
  In the office of the Hollidaysburg Iron and Nail Company there has 
recently been installed a new clerk in the person of William Blackburn, son 
of Joseph Blackburn, of Williamsburg. The young gentleman is thoroughly 
competent and will give satisfaction to his employers.
  W. H. Gardner, of the First National Bank, left for Washington on Thursday 
morning. A telegram received yesterday by his family announced his safe 
arrival in that city, and conveyed the gratifying intelligence that he had 
suffered no inconvenience during the trip.
  Warden McClure feels considerable believed in mind since the departure of 
those of his boarders who have taken up their lodging in more commodious and 
secure quarters at Allegheny City. It is a long time since Mr. McClure was 
the keeper of so thoroughly bad a lot of scoundrels.
  John Hamilton, of Lilly Station, was in town yesterday, hunting for a 
tramp that he had kept over night, and who left in the morning with his 
watch, a new pair of boots and his boy's cap. Last fall Mr. Hamilton 
entertained a turnpike sailor who took the pillow given to him to lay his 
weary head on, and when a few hundred yards from the house ripped it open 
and emptied the feathers on the road.
  The remains of Jacob Gates, the veteran whose death has been announced, 
were interred in the Dunkard burying ground, near Duncansville, on Thursday 
last. Rev. W. W. Reese conducted the funeral services. Mr. Gates was born in 
Dauphin county, March 27, 1795 and was almost 88 years of age at the time of 
his death. He bore no inconspicuous part in the war of 1872 (?), had been a 
citizen of Duncansville for the last twenty years, and was a consistent and 
faithful member of the M. E. Church for thirty years. His end was peace.

CITY AND COUNTRY.

Political Potpourri.

  A meeting of the voters of Logan township will be held on Monday nest at 
the White Hall Hotel of the purpose of nominating a ticket to be voted for 
at the coming election. The court has not yet appointed a place for Logan 
township to hold its elections, and as the hotel was formerly in that 
township and was used as the polling place the voters continue to have their 
primaries there.

An Immense Lime Kiln.
  
  Thomas G. Trout, Esq., of Antis township, three miles east of this city is 
about to show his faith in lime by his works. He is now completing on his 
farm, and will in a few days fire up the largest lime kiln ever built in 
Blair county. The dimensions of the kiln are 48 feet in length, 40 feet in 
width, and 11 1/2 feet high, containing more than 300 four-horse loads of 
limestone, 30 tons of coal, used in the pit, besides 12 to 15 cords of wood. 
The product from the immense kiln is estimated at 12,000 bushels of lime to 
be used exclusively on his farm. As soon as the burning of this one is 
finished, he will begin another of smaller capacity, the lime also to be 
used in enriching his farm.

What the Mayor Did Yesterday.

  That fine old German gentleman who was snoozing under the stairway below 
the Mayor's office on Thursday evening, and was awakened by Officer Whittle 
and given quarters in the lock-up, was before his Honor Mayor Gilland 
yesterday morning, and gave his name as Andy Wright. He desired to be 
leniently dealt with. He had no money to pay a fine, and the Mayor let him 
off with a reprimand.
  The man who wished to stop in the ice house of the Maitland Hotel night 
before last told Mayor Gilland yesterday morning that his name was James 
Meershum. He said it was the first time he had ever been locked up, and the 
iron had entered his soul deeply. He felt very bad over his predicament. 
James said he lived in the vicinity of Bell's Mills. Being an impecunious 
offender and a non-resident, he was allowed to depart on the promise that he 
would go to the home of his childhood and sin no more.

Personal.

  Depot Master Wilson left the city yesterday for Bellefonte. He will be 
absent a couple of days.
  A Huntingdon man, John S. Jenkins, was on board the wrecked Metropolis, 
but saved his life by swimming ashore.
  Mr. C. S. Schubert, of the Johnstown Frie Presse, was in the city on 
Wednesday evening. Mr. Schubert was at one time employed on the Miner's 
Journal, at Pottsville, and some time afterward, in conjunction with F. B. 
Wallace, published a daily paper in that place.
  Mr. Leo Wolf, who has been identified with the mercantile interests of 
this city for many years, left last evening on Fast Line for Louisville, 
Ky., drawn thither to fulfil a prospective matrimonial engagement. This 
felicitous event will take place on the 20th inst., Miss Lillie Hess, a 
wealthy and beautiful lady of that city, being his prospective bride. After 
the celebration of the nuptials and the spending of the customary honeymoon 
Mr. Wolf will take up his permanent residence in Freeport, Illinois. He 
leaves this city followed by the benedictions of a host of warm hearted 
friends, who not only wish him happiness in his matrimonial venture but 
prosperity in his business in his new found Western home. May the Wolf of 
want never cross Leo's door, and if an occasional Wolf enters his home 
circle we want it to be as peaceful and harmless as a lamb. 

An Event in Colored Society.
  
  Mr. Sam Huntley, a colored gentleman of this city, was united in the 
(black) bonds of matrimony with a Huntingdon lady on last Thursday evening.

Back From Pittsburg.

  Last evening on the Atlantic express came Sheriff Stiffler from his trip 
to Pittsburg, where he took his eleven criminals for deposit in the Western 
Penitentiary. The Sheriff says he had no trouble whatever with the prisoners 
after he left Altoona. The boys behaved themselves well. The Sheriff 
returned to Hollidaysburg last evening.

  Almost a Serious Accident.

  John Hudson, a young man seventeen or eighteen years old, in the employ of 
Dr. Christy, was driving a horse attached to a sleigh up the alley above 
Eleventh avenue, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, yesterday 
afternoon. John Kunsman's mule and wagon were standing in the alley, partly 
obstructing the way. The youthful and impetuous Hudson could not wait until 
the mule and wagon were put in position to allow him to pass without danger, 
but dashed on through the alley. The sleigh caught the rear wheel of the 
wagon and dragged it with it, finally throwing the back part in some manner 
into the sleigh. Hudson had not time to get out, and his head was caught 
between the spokes of one of the wheels, crushing him up against the wall on 
his side of the alley. The horse at this time became frightened and broke 
away from the sleigh, leaving a portion of the harness. Young Hudson finally 
extricated himself from this perilous position. His neck and head were 
somewhat bruised, but no serious injury was sustained, as he was seen 
walking about a short time afterwards.

Morning Tribune, Friday, February 9, 1878, page 4

RUN ON THE WAIFS.

  The Altoona Rolling Mill Company employ 116 men.
  A pleasure party will "take in" Cresson next week.
  The shop hands of the company will be paid on Monday.
  The Mountain City Band's last dance will take place to-night.
  A party will be given at the Red Lion Hotel on Tuesday evening.
  The alderman were p. n. g. yesterday, as far as reporters were concerned.
  Council can probably use the Mayor's office to reduce his salary on Monday 
evening.
  A satchel filled with silver fifty-cent pieces to the amount of two 
thousand dollars, consigned to the First National Bank, arrived here on the 
Pacific Express yesterday morning.
  Sam Easton, the sweet whistler of Altoona, entertained a party of 
gentlemen last evening at Eleventh avenue and Thirteenth streets with 
selections from "Shoo Fly," "Hold the Fort," and other musical tidbits.
  The Pacific Express east carries a mail for Tyrone, Spruce Creek, 
Huntingdon, Lewistown, Mifflin, Newport and Harrisburg, and also for points 
on the Tyrone and Clearfield and the Bald Eagle Valley Railroads.
  Up to January 1, 1878, $100,000 have been expended in the repair of the 
locomotives damaged in the Pittsburgh conflagration. Pittsburgh's loss is 
Altoona's gain, as was predicted. As long as our citizens do justly, walk 
uprightly, they will not suffer.
  A drunken man on Eleventh avenue, who had before him on the sidewalk a 
basket of eatables with which he was evidently on his way home, was the 
cynosure of all eyes yesterday afternoon. He was a very picture of 
helplessness as he leaned up against the side of a house, with his "grub" on 
the pavement in front of him.

Morning Tribune, Friday, February 9, 1878, page 4

COURT PROCEEDINGS.

  The entire day was occupied in the hearing of evidence in the cases of 
Thomas Fries and The Union Hardware Company vs. The Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company.
  The following case, being all that remained on the list, were continued.
  Altoona Bank vs. H. L. Patterson's Ex'r.
  Ross Foust vs. Pensylvania Canal Company. Same vs. Same.
  William Ritchey vs. Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
  George Arble vs. J. G. Adlum.
  Altoona Bank vs. S. A. Louder, et al. Same vs. Same.
  All the jurors save those on the case on trial were discharged yesterday 
morning. 

Held for Postage.

  Letters held for postage in the Altoona post-office February 8, 1878: Rev. 
Geo. M. Witten, Columbia, Pa.; Rev. H. A. Stoke, Carlisle, Pa.; Joseph 
Kurtz, Altoona, Pa.

Morning Tribune, Friday, February 9, 1878, page 4